Boy, 13, born without LEGS wins place on his school’s basketball team
>
A 13-year-old boy, born without LEGS, earns a spot on his school’s basketball team, and his peers say he’s great at snatching the ball from opponents as they dribble it across the court.
- Josiah Johnson, 13, was born without legs but made the basketball team at Moore Middle School in Louisville, Kentucky.
- Johnson could have played in a wheelchair, but he said it would have been too easy and he wanted to prove a point.
- The teen’s teammates say he excels at taking the ball away from people, dribbling it down the court and shooting shots.
A Kentucky teenager is proving to be the secret weapon of his high school basketball team, despite being born without legs.
Josiah Johnson, 13, decided to try out for the Moore Middle School basketball team in Louisville, Kentucky in the fall.
It was accepted, on its own merits, and is now the toast of the team.
“He started taking the ball away from people,” said one of his teammates. CBS News.
‘He took the ball from me. He was crazy.
You would have thought Steph Curry was in the gym.
Josiah Johnson, from Louisville, Kentucky, has become a star on his high school basketball team, despite being born without legs.
The teenager has become an unexpected star on the high school basketball team.
Johnson could have played in a wheelchair, but said it would have been too easy.
Johnson could have played in his wheelchair, but he said doing so would have been too easy.
“He made the team, we didn’t put him on the team for no sympathy reasons or anything like that,” said one coach.
‘He showed up for every test, he gave it his all.
“He put himself on the team by making the team.”
As a child, Johnson participated in gymnastics, but said that basketball was his love.
His mother, Whitney, said that Josiah was confident and stubborn.
“Josiah is very competitive, and if he feels something is too easy, he won’t do it,” he said.
Johnson participated in gymnastics as a child, but said he loves to play basketball.
Johnson has refused to let his disability hold him back: his mother said he was stubborn
Johnson is seen playing on the courts at Louisville High School.
The teenager’s position on the ground means that he is a natural at snatching the ball, dribbling and making passes.
Opponents find him difficult to beat.
“People feel bad because I play basketball,” he said, in an interview with Jefferson County Public Schools.
I want to show them that you don’t have to feel bad for me. I want to play at the same level with you.
He underlined his value several weeks ago, at the end of a very close game.
With seconds remaining, Johnson received the ball from outside the three-point line and scored.
His teammates were ecstatic, piling on Johnson in a wild hug caught on camera.
“It was just a moment that I will remember forever,” said a teammate.
Johnson said she hopes other people will be inspired by her dogged determination.
When asked what others should learn from him, he replied, “Do something they thought they couldn’t do.”